Sherlock vs. 7 Detective Shows With Superior Mysteries

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The BBC series Sherlock is considered a top detective show, though other programs offer even more compelling mysteries. Sherlock Holmes remains a beloved and important character in literature, and a recent popular adaptation starring Benedict Cumberbatch is the BBC’s Sherlock.

As a fan of detective shows, I have to say Sherlock really grabbed me when it first hit the screens. Setting the classic stories in modern London was a brilliant move, and the first couple of seasons were fantastic – really clever use of technology and a fresh take on the character. But honestly, it started to lose its way around season three, and that downward trend continued until the series ended. Despite that, I still think Sherlock ranks among the best detective shows ever made, but I have to admit, it’s a bit of a bittersweet experience looking back on it now.

Although Sherlock has some excellent episodes and intriguing mysteries, many others are overly complicated, don’t make much sense, or are simply dull. This doesn’t mean Sherlock is a bad show overall, but when it comes to the quality of its mysteries, other TV series are stronger.

Pushing Daisies (2007)

Two Seasons

Pushing Daisies is a funny and heartwarming detective show created by Bryan Fuller that originally aired on ABC from 2007 to 2009. The show centers around Ned (played by Lee Pace), a pie-maker who has the extraordinary ability to bring the deceased back to life with just a touch. However, there’s a catch: touching them a second time causes them to die for good.

To maintain a natural balance, whenever someone is brought back to life for over a minute, a person with a similar life force nearby will die. Ned, besides being a pie-maker and restaurant owner, teams up with detective Emerson Cod (Chi McBride) to solve murders. He briefly revives victims – for under a minute – to gather crucial information.

Pushing Daisies isn’t your typical detective show. It’s much more playful, funny, and charming, and that’s what makes its mysteries so engaging. Unlike most detective shows that focus on darkness and realism, Pushing Daisies offers bizarre, humorous, and often delightfully absurd cases with a lighter tone.

Criminal Minds (2005-2020, 2022-Present)

18 Seasons

Criminal Minds is a crime drama TV show created by Jeff Davis. It originally aired on CBS from 2005 to 2020, running for 15 seasons. The series was brought back in 2020 as Criminal Minds: Evolution, and continues with the same basic style and storyline, now available on Paramount+.

As a big fan of crime dramas, I’ve always loved Criminal Minds. It centers around an amazing team of FBI profilers in the Behavioral Analysis Unit – the BAU. Each episode usually tackles a brand new, disturbing case, although sometimes a particularly complex one will stretch over a couple of episodes. What’s really cool is that even though the team members have changed over the seasons, the show still feels fresh and remains incredibly popular. It’s a consistently strong series!

Criminal Minds is known for its intensely dark and unsettling cases, which are particularly impactful because they often feel realistic and are sometimes based on actual crimes. The show’s complex mysteries are captivating and frightening, and it’s compelling to watch the BAU team as they work to solve them.

Broadchurch (2013-2017)

Three Seasons

Broadchurch is a British crime drama series created by Chris Chibnall. It originally aired on ITV from 2013 to 2017, running for three seasons. The show is set in the fictional seaside town of Broadchurch, located in Dorset, England, and follows detectives Alec Hardy (David Tennant) and Ellie Miller (Olivia Coleman).

Each season of Broadchurch features a new crime to solve. The first season investigates the murder of 11-year-old Danny Latimer, bringing intense media scrutiny to the town. Season two focuses on the trial of his killer, alongside a separate, older case that Detective Hardy must confront. The third season revolves around the sexual assault of a woman named Trish Winterman.

Broadchurch is highly acclaimed for its compelling storytelling, direction, acting, and the way each season develops the ongoing mysteries. Unlike Sherlock, Broadchurch delves more thoroughly into its cases, and also focuses on how those mysteries affect the lives of people in the close-knit community where it takes place.

Evil (2019-2024)

Four Seasons

Evil is a mystery drama series created by Robert and Michelle King. It first aired on CBS in 2019 and concluded on Paramount+ in 2024 after four seasons. The show follows Dr. Kristen Bouchard, a forensic psychologist who doesn’t believe in the supernatural, as she’s tasked by the Catholic Church to investigate unexplained events and mysteries.

Kristen teams up with David Acosta, a Catholic seminarian played by Mike Colter, and Ben Shakir, a tech expert portrayed by Aasif Mandvi. Despite their different backgrounds and beliefs, they form a surprisingly effective investigative team. As they work on cases, however, their personal lives start to become complicated and connected to the mysteries they’re trying to solve.

Adding to the complexity, Dr. Leland Townsend (Michael Emerson), a competitive forensic psychologist fixated on Kristen and her family, is deeply connected to many of these unsettling events. While each case in Evil begins by appearing supernatural, the team discovers the reality is often far more frightening than ghosts or demons.

Evil explores unsettling mysteries that feel incredibly real, and some are genuinely disturbing. Unlike typical detective shows, it’s a gripping and well-made series that stands out as one of the best on television in recent years, even with its dark themes.

Luther (2010-2019)

Five Seasons

Luther is a British TV series combining crime, thriller, and psychological drama, created by Neil Cross. It originally aired on BBC One from 2010 to 2019, spanning five seasons, and continued with a film released on Netflix in 2023. The show centers around Detective Chief Inspector John Luther, played by Idris Elba, who returns to work after a breakdown, following a case where he let a serial killer fall to his death.

Luther immediately starts a new case: a double murder where the victims’ daughter, Alice Morgan (played by Ruth Wilson), quickly becomes the main suspect. He soon discovers Alice is incredibly intelligent, but also a dangerous psychopath, and their connection becomes complicated – she’s both a source of help and a constant challenge for him.

Luther is facing personal struggles and battling his own inner issues, all while dealing with problems at work because he frequently bends or breaks the rules. Compared to Sherlock, Luther is a grittier show with more realistic, compelling, and complicated mysteries that delve deeper into the characters’ minds.

Elementary (2012-2019)

Seven Seasons

I recently finished watching Elementary, and it’s a really solid take on the Sherlock Holmes story. Created by Robert Doherty, it updates the classic detective for a modern audience, just like Sherlock. The show ran for seven seasons on CBS, from 2012 to 2019, and moves the action to New York City. We meet Sherlock Holmes – played brilliantly by Jonny Lee Miller – who’s trying to rebuild his life after a fall from grace and a stint in rehab back in London. It’s a compelling twist on a familiar tale.

Having relocated to New York City, Sherlock Holmes finds himself partnered with Dr. Joan Watson, a former surgeon in recovery. As they investigate crimes together, Holmes and Watson develop a close and meaningful connection, learning from one another while maintaining a strictly platonic relationship.

As a mystery fan, I really appreciate how Elementary delivers a fresh case each week. But it’s not just about the crimes; the show beautifully weaves in Holmes and Watson’s personal lives, their complex relationship, and how their work affects them. What struck me most was how down-to-earth and believable the mysteries are compared to the BBC’s Sherlock. Even Holmes’s thought process felt clearer and more logical, making his deductions easier to follow and genuinely satisfying.

Mindhunter (2017-2019)

Two Seasons

Mindhunter is a gripping TV series about criminal psychology, created by Joe Penhall. It’s based on the 1995 true-crime book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker. Though the show was a hit on Netflix and is considered by many to be one of the greatest TV series ever made, it was unfortunately cancelled after two seasons.

The series Mindhunter centers on FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench, along with psychologist Wendy Carr, as they begin a groundbreaking project: interviewing incarcerated serial killers. They hope to gain insight into the minds of these criminals, which they can then use to help solve ongoing cases.

The series Mindhunter focuses on notorious serial killers like Edmund Kemper, Dennis Rader, David Berkowitz, and Charles Manson. What’s so compelling – and unsettling – about the show is that it’s based on a true crime project and real-life killers. Combined with its dark, cinematic style, excellent writing, and strong acting, it’s a definite recommendation for anyone who enjoys detective dramas.

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2026-03-25 16:51